Self defence

In some situations it might be necessary for you to use force against others in order to protect yourself.

The law says that you can use reasonable force in self-defence or to protect another person in your property. The definition of ‘reasonable force' depends on what the situation is and it may be decided in court after the event.

However, if you feel in danger and you think that using force might help you, then don't be afraid to do so – always think of your own wellbeing first.

• The force that is ‘reasonable' to use depends on the threat you are facing. E.g. the level of force that you can use to defend your life is greater than the force you can use to defend your property
• If a criminal complains that you used unreasonable force against them, the police will investigate. This does not necessarily mean that you will face criminal charges if you injure a criminal while defending yourself or your property
• In the heat of the moment you may panic, so it may be hard for you to assess the level of danger you face. If charges are brought against you, the courts take account of your circumstances and they will make some allowances for ‘heat of the moment' panic
• The courts believe that if you only did what you honestly and instinctively thought necessary to prevent a crime, then that is strong evidence that you used ‘reasonable force'. Remember that courts try to use common sense and take account of what it would be like to be faced by a violent criminal
• The law does not allow you to retaliate, for example if you try to punish a criminal who committed a crime against you or your family. Punishing criminals is for the courts to decide and the courts do not accept people taking the law into their own hands